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Naples Airport

A Century of Aviation History in Naples

by Chris Rozansky, Executive Director, Naples Airport Authority

or over a century, airplanes have flown Since the 1950s, the Naples Airport has served as a home to
to and from Naples and the surrounding private aviation and aviation-related businesses. However, by
F community, long before the current the late 1960s, with airport operating expenses costing taxpayers
Naples Airport was established. Photos from approximately $200,000 annually, the City discussed the idea of
as early as 1919 show pilots using local golf forming an independent airport authority. In 1969, the Florida
courses and beaches as landing strips. Aircraft Legislature– at the request of the Naples City Council –created
also landed on a “runway” at the intersection the City of Naples Airport Authority (NAA) as an independent
of 5th Avenue South and 3rd Street South in government agency charged with the operation, development, and
downtown Naples. improvement of the Naples Airport.
It was not until World War II that aviation formally came to Since then, the NAA has operated in a financially self-sustaining
Naples when an Army Air Corps base was built in a swampy area manner, receiving no local tax dollars, and funding its operations
east of the Gordon River to serve as a base for training gunners primarily by revenues generated at the airport. With each passing
and fighter pilots. Construction on the “Naples Airdrome” began decade, the airport has strengthened its identity as a vital regional
in 1942 and by December 1943 the first three officers and 78 transportation asset with a focus on safety, the environment,
enlisted men arrived. and service to the
By April 1944, it was community. The Naples
renamed Naples Army Airport plays an
Airfield (NAAF) and important role in public
served as base for the service by serving as
2119th Flexible Gunnery the base of operations
Training School. for Collier Mosquito
During 1945, at the Control District, Collier
height of training, 75 EMS MedFlight, and
planes were based at the Collier County
NAAF, including popular Sheriff’s Office.
trainers of the day such as For over 80 years
the AT-6 (Texan), P-39 the Naples Airport has
(Airacobra), and P-40 changed and adapted
(Warhawk). with the community.
RP-63s (Pinballs) were From its founding as
most commonly used an Army Air Base in
during the training program at NAAF. Incredibly advanced for WWII, to serving as a transportation hub for a growing community
their time, these aircraft were designed with a protective duralumin and now as an economic driver supporting a hriving local economy,
covering and featured special red blinking lights to confirm hits the Naples Airport has supported the community’s needs. The
during aerial attacks. Pinballs were shot at by other pilots using NAA remains committed to ensuring that the airport maintains
disintegrating bullets. Sensors under the plane’s armor detected this critical role and continues to make Naples and Collier County
vibrations from impacts, and a cockpit counter tracked “hits” by the best place in the county to live, work, and play.
lighting up like a pinball machine. Want to learn more about the Naples Airport? For a tour of the
Following the conclusion of WWII, the Army returned airport, or to arrange for a speaker at your group’s next meeting,
the airfield to Collier County and the City of Naples in 1948. call (239) 643-0733.
Eventually, the county sold its interests to the city in 1958.

2020 Life in Naples | May, June, July 2024